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18th-Aug-2018

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AFP, Washington :Chinese bombers are likely training for strikes against US and allied targets in the Pacific, according to a new Pentagon report that also details how Beijing is transforming its ground forces to "fight and win."The annual report to Congress, released Thursday, highlights China's growing military, economic and diplomatic clout and how Beijing is leveraging this to rapidly build its international footprint and establish regional dominance.In the case of China's air power, the report states that Chinese bombers are developing capabilities to hit targets as far from China as possible."Over the last three years, the PLA (People's Liberation Army) has rapidly expanded its overwater bomber operating areas, gaining experience in critical maritime regions and likely training for strikes against US and allied targets," the document states, noting how China is pushing its operations out into the Pacific. In August 2017, six Chinese H-6K bombers flew through the Miyako Strait in the southwest of the Japanese islands, and then for the first time turned north to fly east of Okinawa, where 47,000 US troops are based. The PLA may demonstrate the "capability to strike US and allied forces and military bases in the western Pacific Ocean, including Guam," the report says.China is engaged in a decades-long build-up and modernization of its once-backward armed forces, and military leaders have set a goal of fielding a world-class military by 2050.President Xi Jinping last year ordered the PLA to step up efforts, saying China needed a military ready to "fight and win" wars. The call has alarmed China's neighbors, several of whom are embroiled in tense border disputes with the superpower.According to the Pentagon, the PLA in April 2017 undertook a massive transformation of operational and tactical units as part of its structural reforms.With nearly a million troops, the PLA is the largest standing ground force in the world."The purpose of these reforms is to create a more mobile, modular, lethal ground force capable of being the core of joint operations and able to meet Xi Jinping's directive to 'fight and win wars,'" the report notes.China's military budget for 2017 was about $190 billion, according to the report, far behind the Pentagon's annual budget of about $700 billion.When the Pentagon released its annual report last year, Beijing dismissed it as "irresponsible" in predicting that China would expand its global military presence by building overseas bases in countries like Pakistan.This year's report reiterates that China will seek to establish new bases in countries such as Pakistan. Key to this expanding footprint is China's "belt and road" initiative that seeks to bolster ties with other nations through lending and infrastructure deals.Taiwan 'contingency' The document also shines a light on China's ongoing military preparations for a "contingency" in the Taiwan Strait. Officially, China advocates for a peaceful reunification with Taiwan, but it has never repudiated the use of military force, the document notes."The PLA also is likely preparing for a contingency to unify Taiwan with China by force, while simultaneously deterring, delaying, or denying any third-party intervention on Taiwan's behalf," it states."Should the United States intervene, China would try to delay effective intervention and seek victory in a high-intensity, limited war of short duration."To the ire of regional neighbors, China has built a series of islets and ocean features into military facilities in the South China Sea.Beijing has now stopped substantial land reclamation."However, it continued to build infrastructure at three outposts," the report says."Over the last three years, the PLA has rapidly expanded its overwater bomber operating areas, gaining experience in critical maritime regions and likely training for strikes against U.S. and allied targets," the report said, using an acronym for China's People's Liberation Army.The report comes as China and the United States plan to hold trade talks, offering hope they might resolve an escalating tariff conflict that threatens to degenerate into an all-out trade war..

AFP, Mumbai : Indian cricket heroes on Thursday paid tribute to Ajit Wadekar, who led the country to their first series triumphs in England and the West Indies, following his death at the age of 77."He will always be remembered as the 'renaissance man' of Indian cricket," said Board of ...

A TOTAL of 606 people could not fly to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj this year for various reasons, including negligence of hajj agencies, said Religious Affairs Minister on Wednesday. He said a number of complaints have been received against some agencies and action will be taken against them after ...

Actress Deepika Padukone has now been featured by the prestigious Vogue magazine in their September issue. Deepika Padukone has featured in the issue alongside 33 other achievers who are known for effecting change and leading conversations wherever their career has taken them. Deepika is the only Indian personality to get ...

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday paid rich tributes to veteran journalist and daily Samakal Editor Golam Sarwar. On behalf of the premier, her Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim placed a wreath on the coffin of Golam Sarwar on the Jatiya Press Club premises here on Thursday afternoon.Earlier, a namaz-e-janaza of ...

AFP, Washington US newspapers big an:d small hit back Thursday at President Donald Trump's relentless attacks on the news media, launching a coordinated campaign of editorials stressing the importance of a free press.Leading the charge was The Boston Globe, which had issued an appeal for this drive-accompanied by the hashtag ...

AGAINST the backdrop of quota reform movement, a second-year student of Social Science at Eden College Lutfur Nahar Luma was arrested from her grandfather's house in Belkuchi upazila of Sirajganj district in the small hours of Wednesday. Police said the cyber crime unit of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime ...

AFP, Cincinnati :Roger Federer began his US Open preparation with a quick 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Peter Gojowczyk in his first ATP Cincinnati Masters appearance since 2015.The 20-time Grand Slam champion, who turned 37 last week, is pacing his tennis year, playing a limited schedule and skipping events when he ...

The makers of the Kajol starrer Helicopter Eela have dropped a goofy number from the film that depicts Kajol’s over-protective character in the film. Amit Trivedi’s composition has an upbeat melody and has been rendered by Ronit Sarkar. The peppy number opens with Kajol as Eela spying on her son ...

Sheikh Arif Bulbon :When Ishita won the hearts of many viewers during that time they remained very much eager to watch Ishita’s acting on the screen. But day by day, Ishita started to leave acting. However, viewers still show their keen interest to enjoy Ishita’s acting. She will be seen ...

Reuters, Washington :US President Donald Trump on Tuesday lashed out at former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman, calling her a "dog" as his fellow former reality TV star continued to publicly release recordings from her time in Trump's orbit.Their escalating feud was sparked by the release of a tell-all ...

THE nation mourns the 43rd Shahadat Anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman today with prayers and solemnity all over the country. He was assassinated with almost all of his family members in the wee hours of that fateful night at his home in the city. It was a night of ...

SOME 270 Bangladeshi workers have allegedly been defrauded of over Tk 3.6 crore by an agent over securing valid work permits under the Malaysian rehiring programme. The Bangladeshi nationals had handed over their passports, other relevant documents and paid between Tk 144,000 and Tk 160,000 each to the agent for ...